Compensation

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what measures her Department is taking to discourage the compensation culture and promote sensible risk management.

Phil Woolas: This Department is represented on the cross-government Ministerial Steering group which is promoting sensible risk management as part of its work on tackling perceptions of a compensation culture. Officials are working with colleagues from the Department for Constitutional Affairs, Local Government Employers, and the Health and Safety Executive, on a workshop "Risk and Redress—The way Forward for Local Government", which will look at approaches to managing risk sensibly. The workshop will involve local government stakeholders.
	In addition the Department is taking a number of specific steps to promote good risk management. The Department will shortly bring forward revised guidance under the 'How To' programme, which aims to raise the quality of town centres, residential areas, and parks and green spaces by encouraging and supporting a climate of good practice. The new guidance will provide advice on how local managers of the public realm, and parks in particular, should assess and manage risk and the perception of risk.
	The Department has also tasked the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) with undertaking research and producing good practice guidance on how risk affects the design and management of the public realm. This work will be disseminated in partnership with other relevant organisations later this year.

Housing: Castle Point

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) individuals and  (b) families were in housing need in Castle Point in each of the last 10 years.

Phil Woolas: Communities and Local Government does not make estimates of housing need as any such estimates would be unlikely to adequately reflect the diversity of needs and priorities at the local level. Instead local authorities are required to assess housing need assessments as part of their Strategic Local Housing Market Assessments.
	Communities and Local Government has a variety of strategies for addressing housing need, including concentrating efforts and resources on homelessness prevention activities, increasing investment in the provision of new social housing and improving the stock of existing social housing through the Decent Homes programme.

Housing: Flood Control

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the acreage of land prone to flooding which will be developed with housing during the next five years.

Yvette Cooper: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 27 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1419W.

IPPR

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what funding the Housing Corporation has provided to  (a) the IPPR and  (b) IPPR Trading Ltd in each year since May 1997; and for what purpose.

Ruth Kelly: The Housing Corporation is a non-departmental public body funded by Communities and Local Government. Through their innovation and good practice grants programme, which aims to facilitate the development of innovative approaches and promote good practice in the housing sector, the Corporation has provided the following grant to IPPR Trading Ltd. (Institute for Public Policy Research Trading Ltd.). All payments were given as grants and are VAT inclusive.
	
		
			£ 
			 31 May 1999 to 31 May 2000 Holding Policy Forums, Interim 10,000 
			
			 1 June 2000 to 31 May 2001 Holding Policy Forums, Final 10,000 
			
			 31 May 2002 to 31 May 2003 "A New Regional Policy for the UK", Interim 10,000 
			  "Not for Profit Public/Private Partnership" 40,000 
			
			 1 June 2003 to 31 May 2004 "Home Ownership Task Force Report", Final 11,500 
			  "A New Regional Policy for the UK" 10,000 
			
			 31 May 2005 to 31 May 2006 "HA tenants attitude to tenure", Interim 5,875 
			
			 1 June 2006 to 31 May 2007 (to date) "HA tenants attitude to tenure", Final 5,875 
		
	
	The Housing Corporation has not provided any funding to IPPR.

Sports: EC Countries

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will make a statement on the progress of the European Sports Review.

Richard Caborn: The Independent European Sport Review was instigated under the UK Presidency following the expression of concerns about the state of football by both UEFA and FIFA. The Review, conducted by an independent review team, undertook an examination of the challenges to the future stability and success of the game posed by commercialisation and the place of sport within the wider EU legal framework. It's publication in final form in October has triggered a wide-ranging debate both within sport and at EU level.
	The Review contains recommendations aimed at football's governing bodies, the European Commission and member states. Sport is autonomous and much of the responsibility for taking forward the issues raised lies with sport itself. It is for football to agree what it wants to achieve, develop more detailed proposals and engage with the political authorities. My Department has been encouraging this process and there is a well developed debate taking place among the numerous Clubs, Leagues and Governing Bodies across Europe.
	UEFA has made good progress and already implemented a range of the Review's recommendations aimed at it. These include putting in place a new Strategic Council to involve clubs, leagues and players in top-level decision-making, a range of enhancements to their Club Licensing system, the launch of a feasibility study into a European Supporters Direct, based on the highly successful UK model, and enhancement of anti-racism disciplinary measures.
	The key issue the Review raises for the Commission and member states is how the 2000 Nice Declaration can be effectively implemented to ensure the special nature of Sport is recognised in policy-making and in the application of EU rules. Doing so will help overcome the current uncertainty facing those involved in the game and help enable them to find the right balance between its commercial and sporting sides.
	The UK has been working closely with the Commission and other member states to take this forward. The Commission will publish a White Paper on Sport this summer that will address this issue and respond to the Review's recommendations aimed at it. I would like to see this set out clearly how the Commission plans to 'sports-proof' its decision-making and thus fulfil the commitments made in the Nice Declaration. I strongly welcome indications that it will also recommend the development of an ongoing structured dialogue between sport and the EU aimed at finding a way forward on the kind of issues raised by the Review.
	There is widespread support across Europe to help sport tackle the challenges facing it. The European Parliament issued a Report on the future of Professional Sport on 28 March (the Belet Report) which welcomes the Review and asks the Commission to establish an action plan based upon its recommendations. The Council of Europe has, at the UK's instigation, agreed to consider the issues raised by the Review as part of its new Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport.
	The Review is one of a number of recent initiatives that have acted as a catalyst to the wider debate that has been going on in football, and other sports, about where the right balance between its commercial and sporting sides lies and how it can best secure its future stability and success within the wider EU framework. I look forward to the Commission's White Paper as the next key milestone in taking forward the debate on how the political level can help football, and sport more widely, to achieve this within the wider EU framework.

Sports: EC Countries

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received from  (a) the Premier League and  (b) individual Premier League clubs on the European Sports Review.

Richard Caborn: Regular discussions have taken place around the issues raised by the Independent European Sports Review with a wide range of professional sports stakeholders. The review covers a substantial number of subject areas that have long been of interest to professional sports and therefore regularly forms part of the backdrop to discussions and correspondence on a variety of issues.
	There has been an ongoing dialogue with the Premier League since the review's publication. The Premier League, along with other stakeholders, were invited to set out their thoughts on the review in writing following its publication and took this opportunity to present a written submission to me. I have subsequently met the Chief executive and chairman of the League on a number of occasions and recently attended a meeting of Premier League chairs, at which individual clubs had the opportunity to put forward their views and engage in the debate.
	Following an earlier invitation to all Premier League clubs to do so, Sheffield United, Wigan, Charlton and Everton have all written to me setting out their thoughts on the review.

Written Questions

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will reply to question numbers 129383 and 129384, on expenditure on the 2012 Olympics, tabled by the hon. Member for Faversham and Mid Kent on 20 March.

Tessa Jowell: I can confirm that the questions referred to, numbers 129383 and 129384, were answered on 18 April.

Armed Forces: South Africa

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to take steps to enable South Africans serving in the British armed forces to be offered British citizenship.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 16 April 2007
	We are currently looking at a range of options for personnel should the South African Prohibition of Mercenary Activities Prohibition and Regulation of Certain Activities in an Area of Armed Conflict Bill be enacted so that we can support those who may be affected.
	Under current rules eligible South Africans serving in the British armed forces can apply for British citizenship if they have been resident in the UK for a five year period, or three years if married or in a civil partnership to a British citizen. Service in the armed forces, at home and abroad, counts towards the residential qualifying period.
	Active engagement with the South African Department of Defence is on-going and we hope to secure a date for the officials' visit at the earliest opportunity.

Armed Forces: South Africa

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the impact of the South African Prohibition of Mercenary Activities and Regulation of Certain Activities in Areas of Armed Conflict Bill on the ability of South African personnel  (a) to serve in and  (b) to deploy with the British armed forces.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 16 April 2007
	 The proposed Bill, if enacted as currently drafted, would mean that South African personnel would need to apply for permission to serve in a foreign armed force, but that such permission would lapse if the person to whom it has been granted takes part in an armed conflict.
	We are urgently investigating the potential consequences for South African personnel currently serving in the UK armed forces, should the legislation be enacted, so that we can support those who may be affected.

Education: Assessments

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills 
	(1)  how much was spent by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on the key stage 3 and 4 review supplement in  The Guardian newspaper on 3 April;
	(2)  which employees within the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority contributed to the key stage 3 and 4 review supplement in  The Guardian newspaper on 3 April;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the brief the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority agreed with Guardian Professional in relation to the key stage 3 and 4 review supplement in  The Guardian newspaper on 3 April.

Jim Knight: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority spent £66,975 (including VAT) on  The Guardian, 'Freedom to Learn' supplement on 3 April. The sponsored supplement package included the hardcopy format (editorial, design and print) and an online version, with web chat facilities. Part of QCA's role is to communicate curriculum changes effectively to teachers, head teachers, and the wider subject community.
	Those from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority who contributed to the supplement were the Director of Curriculum, the Head of Curriculum Development, members of the Curriculum Development Team and members of the Communications and Marketing Division.
	A copy of the brief agreed with Guardian Professional for the 3 April to be placed in the House Library.

Further Education: Standards

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many times the power to intervene in further education colleges under section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 was exercised in each year since 1997; and what the circumstances were of each intervention.

Bill Rammell: The Departments records indicate that the powers under section 57 of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992 have never been used except where, following the resignation of the governing body, the Secretary of State has been required to appoint new governors. We consider that the existence of these powers does contribute to better outcomes in resolving cases where institutions get into difficulties.
	We expect these powers to be used only in exceptional circumstances—where all other options have failed. We believe that having the power available and the possibility of it being exercised, has been the trigger in some cases for governing bodies to act themselves.

Secondary Education: Curriculum

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 21 February 2007,  Official Report, columns 1817-18W, on Bishops Park college, what the evidential basis was for the statement that Bishops Park college's approach to the curriculum has been shown to be effective in  (a) helping to improve staying on rates,  (b) reducing the number of exclusions and teenage pregnancies and  (c) increasing parental satisfaction.

Jim Knight: Bishop's Park college is part of a study from the National College of School Leadership Research Associate programme on staying-on rates, student pregnancies, exclusions and parental satisfaction. The college is one of over 1,000 schools that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is working with to promote the use of a broad range of measures in judging the effectiveness of the curriculum.
	I have requested a copy of the research from this programme and I will write separately to the hon. Member with data about Bishop's Park college on receipt.

Special Educational Needs

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the minimum qualification requirements are for special educational needs co-ordinators.

Parmjit Dhanda: There are no specific minimum qualification requirements in relation to special educational needs co-ordinators. School-based SENCOs are selected and appointed by head teachers, and the expectation is that heads will appoint someone with a proven track record of working successfully with children with SEN and disabilities. Training arrangements for SENCOs are currently determined locally, having regard to the knowledge, skills and experience of the person concerned, and the range and complexity of SEN and disabilities represented within the school.
	The Department's SEN Code of Practice, published in November 2001, contains guidance on the role and responsibilities of SENCOs. The Teacher Training Agency, now the Training and Development Agency for Schools, also published a set of National Standards for SENCOs in 1998.
	In our response to the House of Commons Education and Skills Select Committee report on SEN, published 11 October 2006 (Cm 6940), we declared our intention to require, through regulations, all newly appointed SENCOs to undertake nationally accredited training. These regulations would be made pursuant to section 173 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006.
	The TDA are undertaking associated development work, beginning with establishing a clear statement of the key components of the role, knowledge, skills and experience required of those leading SEN and disability provision in schools.

Teachers: Pay

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the average starting salary is for a teacher in an  (a) maintained primary school,  (b) maintained secondary school and  (c) academy.

Jim Knight: The average salary of newly qualified teachers in full-time regular service in local authority schools in England, March 2005 was £19,550 in nursery and primary schools and £19,930 in secondary schools. This is the latest information available. Teachers included are those who attained qualified teacher status in 2004.
	No information is available for academies.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 2181-2W, on agriculture subsidies, 
	(1)  what definition he uses of the UK's interests;
	(2)  when he expects a figure for disallowances of payments made by his Department to be available;
	(3)  when he expects the European Commission to complete its audit of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme.

Barry Gardiner: If the European Commission's audit of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) in England follows normal patterns, we would expect to be informed of the final conclusions relating to it during the course of 2008. Only at that point will a definitive figure on disallowance, if any, be available. In the intervening period, the Department will, through its contacts with the Commission, continue to defend the UK's interests with the aim of ensuring that any disallowance proposals are minimised to the fullest possible degree.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the contingent liabilities for disallowances arising from Common Agricultural Policy schemes in each month since January 2006; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 8 March 2007,  Official Report, column 2181W, on agriculture: subsidies, to which years the estimated £305 million for disallowance arising from Common Agricultural Policy schemes applies; when the final disallowance will be  (a) finalised and  (b) announced in public; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the disallowance arising from Common Agricultural Policy schemes, with particular reference to the single farm payment and related contingent liabilities for each month since January 2006; and when he was first informed that the total disallowance in this respect may be up to £305 million;
	(4)  what definition he uses of a prudent and reasonable estimate, in the context of the claim on the reserve to cover provision for disallowance arising from Common Agricultural Policy schemes and the single farm payment and the possible financial correction the European Commission may apply;
	(5)  what his most recent estimate is of the disallowance resulting from Common Agricultural Policy schemes.

Barry Gardiner: The level of potential disallowance relating to all CAP schemes and all UK Paying Agencies is subject to ongoing review by officials and is based on an assessment of the payments process, communications received from, and negotiations with, the European Commission. These prudent, i.e. careful and cautious, assessments are brought together and reported to Ministers as necessary, as was the case for the provisions made in the Department's Resource Accounts for 2005-06 and for the claim on the reserve included in the Spring Supplementary Estimate for £305 million estimate cover, which related to potential provisions in respect of SPS 2005, SPS 2006 and other CAP schemes dating back to 2004. In each case, the overall estimates were based on the latest assessment of potential disallowances at the time. An exercise will be undertaken in relation to the Department's Resource Accounts for 2006-07, at which time a revised assessment will be made of the level of provisions required and what disclosures need to be made in respect of contingent liabilities.
	Detailed discussions will take place with the Commission over a number of years before a final figure is reached on any disallowances and the outcome will be disclosed in the Department's Resource Accounts in the year in which they are imposed.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the conclusions and recommendations of the report by the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee on the Rural Payments Agency and the implementation of the Single Payment Scheme.

David Miliband: I am grateful to the right hon. Member for Fylde (Mr. Jack) and his colleagues on the EFRA Select Committee for their work to produce this report. My Department is currently considering it and will publish a response in the usual way in due course.

Coal Fired Power Stations

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions his Department has had with the Department of Trade and Industry on the environmental impact of new coal-fired power stations.

Ian Pearson: DEFRA Ministers and officials regularly meet their DTI colleagues to discuss a wide range of energy and environmental issues, including the green house gas impact of different forms of power generation.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the devolved administrations on the drafting of legislation to protect the UK's marine environment.

Ben Bradshaw: Ministers and officials have held very constructive discussions with the devolved administrations. I hope the administrations in Wales and Scotland after the forthcoming elections are equally committed to the marine environment.

Bangladesh: Politics and Government

Lyn Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received of the murder charges laid by the authorities in Bangladesh against Sheikh Hasina, leader of the Awami League party.

Kim Howells: We are aware that serious criminal charges have been brought against Sheikh Hasina and other political leaders in Bangladesh. We expect the Caretaker government to act in the best interests of the people of Bangladesh, to act with integrity and to respect human rights and the rule of law. We have reminded the Bangladesh Government of their responsibilities towards all those accused and urged them to ensure that due process is followed.

British Embassy Washington

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which Cabinet Ministers stayed at the British embassy in Washington between  (a) 3 to 9 February 2004 and  (b) 14 to 17 December 2004.

Ian McCartney: According to official records, no Cabinet Ministers stayed at our embassy in Washington on the dates in question.

Burma: Aung San Suu Kyi

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports she has received of the welfare of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Ian McCartney: We remain concerned about the welfare of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained by the Burmese government since May 2003.
	The conditions of her detention are very restrictive. Her doctor is allowed to visit her occasionally. On 24 November 2006, our Ambassador in Rangoon formally requested authority from the Burmese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to pay a courtesy call on her. The request was refused.
	I discussed the situation of Aung San Suu Kyi when I met the UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Ibrahim Gambari, on 15 November 2006. Mr. Gambari met her during his visit to Burma in November 2006. We understand that Aung Sang Suu Kyi assured Mr. Gambari that she was in reasonably good health. Mr. Gambari raised concerns about her welfare with the Burmese government.
	We have repeatedly called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners in Burma.

Burma: Politics and Government

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress she has made in persuading the government of Burma to improve its observance of human rights.

Ian McCartney: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office identifies Burma as a country of concern in our 2006 Annual Report on Human Rights. The Government's policy is to promote full respect for human rights in Burma encouraging the rule of law, democracy and good governance, and the freedom of association and speech in accordance with international human rights law.
	We have been at the forefront of international efforts over many years to bring pressure to bear on the military regime to re-establish democracy and to respect human rights. We take every opportunity to raise human rights issues with the regime and remind them of their obligations to adhere to international human rights law. Our Embassy in Rangoon also delivers capacity building assistance through our Global Opportunities Fund in support of these objectives.
	I have raised the human rights situation regularly with the Burmese regime and other governments in the region. On 16 June 2006, I called in the Burmese Ambassador and on 5 July 2006 I wrote to the Burmese Foreign Minister, highlighting our many concerns. On 18 September 2006, I raised the serious human rights situation with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Ambassadors, including the Burmese Ambassador, and on 4 December 2006 with the ASEAN Secretary-General. I have also raised Burma with the Governments of China, India, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea. I have discussed the human rights abuses taking place in Burma with Juan Mendez, the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide. I discussed Burma in detail with Ibrahim Gambari, the UN Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs, on 15 November 2006, following his visit to the country. Most recently, I raised the human rights situation in Burma in my address to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on 13 March and at the EU/ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Nuremberg on 15 March, in the presence of the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister.
	In addition, our Ambassador in Rangoon regularly raises human rights with the regime, most recently when he met the Burmese Ministers for Planning and Immigration and the Burmese Deputy Foreign Minister on 5 January.
	The UK works closely with the EU and other international partners, including the UN and ASEAN, to promote human rights in Burma, and folly supports the efforts of the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Burma, Professor Sergio Pinheiro.
	We supported the efforts to have Burma added to the UN Security Council agenda in September 2006 and co-sponsored with the US a UN Security Council Resolution on Burma. This was put to the vote on 12 January. Nine members of the Security Council supported the Resolution. However, three States, including two Permanent Members of the Council, voted against and as such the Resolution was not adopted. While the result was disappointing, it is important to note that all Security Council members agreed that there were serious issues of concern in Burma. This, and the positive votes from the majority of Security Council partners, reflected the international community's deep concern over the plight of Burma's people. Burma remains on the UN Security Council agenda.

Iraq: Death

Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the estimated Iraqi death toll for  (a) civilian deaths and  (b) all other deaths is for each month since March 2003; and what methods were used for the collation and presentation of the data.

Kim Howells: All deaths in Iraq resulting from military and terrorist attacks are a tragedy. The Government of Iraq is best placed to monitor the numbers of Iraqi casualties, but we continue to believe that there are no comprehensive or reliable figures for deaths since March 2003. Estimates vary according to the method of collection.
	According to figures released by the Iraqi Ministry of the Interior on 2 January 2007, 12,320 civilians were killed during 2006. The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq estimates that 34,452 civilians were killed in 2006, on the basis of information obtained through the Iraqi Health Ministry, hospitals and the Medico-Legal Institute in Baghdad. No further figures are currently available.

Nepal: Elections

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assurances she has received that elections to a special assembly to rewrite the Nepalese constitution will be held in June.

Kim Howells: Nepal's Chief Election Commissioner told the media on 13 April that elections on 20 June are no longer possible. The Commissioner has also written to the Government of Nepal to say that, in order to prepare for an effective election, he requires 110 days from the date that all necessary election legislation has been passed. With the interim Parliament still debating the necessary legislation, the Election Commission has not yet been able to finalise procedures, manuals, training and voter education materials.
	In addition, the Electoral Constituency Delimitation Commission and government have yet to agree on the delimitation of an additional 24 territorial constituencies.
	These have been introduced, mostly in the Terai, to add to the existing 205 throughout Nepal, in an attempt to address Madhesi concerns. The deadline for this exercise has been extended to 29 April.
	During his visit to Nepal on 2-4 April, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for International Development urged all parties to work towards free, fair and credible elections in an atmosphere free from violence and intimidation. He called on the Government of Nepal to ensure that voters were able genuinely and freely to express their will.
	The Government of Nepal has yet to react to the Chief Election Commissioner's letter. However, the eight parties are due to meet to discuss the announcement and consider next steps. In the meantime, we will encourage the government to use any delay in the election process to create a transparent and properly sequenced plan for elections later this year. In addition, we will continue to work with the EU, the UN and our other international partners and non-governmental organisations to ensure that the political and security environment in Nepal is appropriate to allow free, fair and credible elections to take place.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what plans she has for proposals to take forward the UK's multilateral disarmament commitments in the run up to the May 2007 Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference; and whether she has had any discussions with her United States counterparts on such proposals;
	(2)  what initiatives she is planning to take forward the UK's multilateral disarmament commitments in the run up to the Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2010 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference in Vienna in May; and whether she has had any discussions with her United States counterpart on such proposals.

Kim Howells: The Government are strongly committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the framework for nuclear disarmament. The UK is determined to make every effort to ensure that this review cycle results in a positive and substantive final document at the 2010 Review Conference that moves forward all aspects of Treaty implementation, including disarmament. We are working with allies, including the US, to lay the groundwork for this at the April-May 2007 NPT Preparatory Committee. We believe we have already made a contribution by announcing, in the White Paper on the Future of the UK's Nuclear Deterrent, a further 20 per cent. cut in our warhead stockpile.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty

Bob Blizzard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what matters she plans to raise at the meeting of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty Preparatory Committee starting on 30 April; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The United Kingdom will work with the EU, with its allies in the Western European and Others' Group and with the other nuclear weapon states towards strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT) and the wider nuclear non-proliferation regime. There are a number of issues on which useful work could be undertaken, many of which were set out in the EU Common Position agreed for the 2005 review conference and remain outstanding. It will be important to build consensus on these areas, and any new workstreams, in this and future Preparatory Committees. We hope that this process will culminate in a substantive final document being agreed at the 2010 NPT review conference.

Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit

Richard Younger-Ross: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's input to the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Unit.

Kim Howells: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is actively engaged in all aspects of the Post Conflict Reconstruction Unit's (PCRU) work. The FCO, Ministry of Defence and Department for International Development provide strategic direction to the PCRU through quarterly meetings at director-level. The FCO also works closely with the PCRU on overarching issues such as security and rule of law, and on the PCRU's international deployments. The FCO has encouraged its staff to apply for positions in the unit: it currently has five working there.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust: Midwives

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) full-time midwives and  (b) midwife assistants were employed by Northern Lincolnshire and Goole hospitals NHS trust as at 31 September in each of the last five years.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  NHS hospital and community health services: qualified midwifery staff and support staff in the maternity services area of work in the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole national health service trust as at 30 September each specified year 
			  Full-time equivalent 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Total specified staff 90 159 150 211 205 
			 Qualified midwives 65 122 109 151 142 
			 Nursing assistants/auxiliaries 11 11 10 17 15 
			 Health care assistants 14 26 30 40 44 
			 Support workers 0 0 0 3 3 
			  Note: Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.  Source: The Information Centre for health and social care non-medical work force census.

Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust: Midwives

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many vacancies for midwife positions there were in each of the last three years for  (a) Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust and  (b) the NHS.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  The Information Centre for Health and Social Care Vacancies Survey NHS three month vacancies for qualified midwives each specified year. Three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post 
			   March 2003  September 2002  March 2004  September 2003 
			   Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent)  Staff in post (headcount)  Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent)  Staff in post (headcount) 
			 England 3.1 572 18,119 23,249 3.3 619 18,444 23,941 
			  of which: 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust 0.0 (1)— 122 149 0.0 (1)— 103 133 
		
	
	
		
			   March 2005  September 2004  March 2006  September 2005 
			   Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent)  Staff in post (headcount)  Three month vacancy rate ( % )  Three month vacancy number  Staff in post (whole-time equivalent)  Staff in post (headcount) 
			 England 1.8 348 18,854 24,844 1.0 185 18,949 24,808 
			  of which: 
			 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust — — (1)— (1)— 0.0 0 142 179 
			 (1 )Zero  Three month vacancy notes: 1 Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust did not supply a valid return for the 2005 vacancies survey. Vacancy data for this trust for this year are not available. 2. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each specified year. 3. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents). 4. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post. 5. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Non-Medical Workforce Census 6. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place. 7. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number. 8. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates. 9. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.  Sources: The Information Centre for Health and Social Care Vacancies Survey 31 March each specified year. The Information Centre for Health and Social Care Non-Medical Workforce Census 30 September each specified year.

Childbirth: Death

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the death rate per million maternities from puerperal sepsis and other forms of septicaemia was in each year since 1999-2000; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Deaths from puerperal sepsis are very rare. The Department-sponsored confidential enquiry into maternal deaths 'Why Mothers Die' report for 2000-02 only identified five women who died of puerperal sepsis in the United Kingdom for the three years 2000 to 2002. This gives a maternal death rate of 2.5 per million maternities. The next report is due to be published later this year and will contain the figures for the three year period 2003-05.

Dentistry

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether her Department has sought to recruit dentists from India.

Rosie Winterton: Our 'Project 1,000' recruitment campaign, undertaken in 2004-05, extended to India. With the agreement of the Indian health department, the Department made arrangements for dentists to sit Part A of the General Dental Council's International Qualifying Examination in India.

Exercise

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress is being made by the Government on reaching its target of getting 70 per cent. of the population physically active by 2020; and what projects there are in place to reach the target;
	(2)  how much the Government have spent on reaching its target of getting 70 per cent. of the population physically active by 2020 in the last 12 months; and how much is planned to be spent over the next five years.

Caroline Flint: 'Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan' set out a plan to promote physical activity for all in accordance with the evidence and recommendations set out in the Chief Medical Officer's report 'At least five a week. Choosing Activity' summarised how we would deliver the physical activity commitments in the Public Health White Paper 'Choosing Health' and other Government announcements prior to its publication in March 2005. By January 2007, 57 of the 99 commitments had been achieved. Projects support physical activity and sport in schools, workplaces, and in the community.
	The Government's physical activity priorities were published in public service agreement targets to halt the year-on-year increase in obesity among children under 11, increase the take up of cultural and sporting opportunities by adults and young people aged 16 and above, and to enhance the take up of sporting opportunities by 5 to 16-year olds through physical exercise and school sport.
	The Government remain committed to building upon this progress and in transforming the population into a fitter and more active nation in the run up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
	The Government have and continue to invest millions in supporting physical activity and sport, nationally and across the NHS and local government. The Department does not collect detailed breakdowns of individual expenditure on physical activity by all local agencies such as primary care trusts and local authorities. Spending allocations for the next five years are subject to the current comprehensive spending review.

Health Professions: Training

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps she is taking to encourage more people to train as  (a) doctors and  (b) nurses.

Rosie Winterton: In order to encourage applicants to medicine, nursing and other healthcare training, the Department established the NHS Careers service in 1999. NHS Careers provides comprehensive information to the public about careers in the healthcare. It promotes the national health service as an employer and attracts potential employees to the NHS. NHS Careers provides a 24-hour helpline (0845 60 60 655), website (www.nhscareers.nhs.uk), literature and supporting services for the public, NHS employers, schools, colleges and careers advisers. The service is now operated by NHS Employers.
	In addition, the Department provides non-repayable NHS bursaries for nurses and pays the tuition fees in full for the majority of NHS professional students undertaking programmes leading to professional registration. A means-tested bursary is available to medical students for the latter years of their undergraduate training.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when her Department will respond to the letter of 14 March from the hon. Member for Billericay on the planned Independent Sector Treatment Centre for Basildon.

Andy Burnham: I regret the hon. Member's letter was not received by the Department. A copy has now been obtained and a reply will be sent shortly.

NHS: Ancillary Staff

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health which patient and public interest groups responded to her Department's review of the regulation of non-medical healthcare professions.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for North-West Leicestershire (David Taylor) on 5 March 2007,  Official Report, column 1686W.

NHS: Equal Opportunities

Michael Jabez Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) gender,  (b) age and  (c) ethnicity is of (i) chairmen and (ii) non-executive directors appointed during the last 12 months to NHS trusts in (A) England and (B) South East Coast Strategic Health Authority.

Rosie Winterton: Information about the gender, age and ethnicity of chairs and non-executive directors of national health service trusts and strategic health authorities in England, is held by the Appointments Commission. I have asked Sir William Wells, Chair of the Commission, to respond to your query directly.

Patients: Barnet

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in Barnet received  (a) in-patient and  (b) out-patient treatment in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 1997-98 and (iii) 2005-06; how many have received each type of treatment in 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is shown in the following tables.
	Since 1998-99, in-patient data has been collected on first finished consultant episodes (FFCEs). This is not directly comparable with the data collected before 1998-99, which was on the more widely defined finished consultant episodes (FCEs).
	Enfield Primary Care Trust run a specialist clinical assessment service, which triages outpatient referrals and is redirecting a significant proportion to alternative services in primary care.
	
		
			  In - patients — elective and non-elective general and acute activity 
			   Definition  Finished consultant episodes in Barnet 
			 1996-97 FCEs 83,276 
			 1997-98 FCEs 73,005 
			 2005-06 FFCEs 72,048 
			 Part-year April 2006 to January 2007 FFCEs 64,345 
		
	
	
		
			  Out-patients—total out-patient attendances—all specialties 
			   Finished consultant episodes in Barnet 
			 1996-97 353,979 
			 1997-98 315,553 
			 2005-06 278,641 
			 Part-year April 2006 to January 2007 204,533 
			  Notes:  The 1996-97 and 1997-98 figures are for Chase Farm Hospitals Trust and Wellhouse National Health Service Trust combined. The 2005-06 and 2006-07 figures are for Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, formed in April 1999 from the merger of the other two.  Source:  Department of Health Monthly Monitoring and KH09/QMOP/QM08 returns

School Nurses

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many school nurses are employed by each primary care trust; and how many carry out vision screening of  (a) primary school children and  (b) secondary school children.

Rosie Winterton: The information on school nurses employed by primary care trust (PCT) has been placed in the Library.
	Although 100 PCTs do not employ any school nurses, this does not necessarily mean that there are no school nurses working in that area. The data taken from the Information Centre workforce census, record who employs school nurses rather than where they actually work. For example, some of the 41 school nurses who were employed by the former Leeds East PCT worked within other PCT boundaries in Leeds where 0 were employed.
	Information is not collected centrally on how many of these carry out vision screening.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the Government has spent on the  (a) treatment and  (b) prevention of sexually transmitted diseases in the last 12 months; and how much will be spent over the next five years.

Andy Burnham: Sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment is funded through general allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs) and is not separately identified. In addition, PCTs received funding for implementing the targets in the White Paper 'Choosing Health: making healthy choices' easier, a copy of which is available in the Library. PCT revenue allocations separately identify funding to support the implementation of 'Choosing Health'. It is for PCTs to determine how to use the funding allocated to them to commission services to meet the healthcare needs of their local populations.
	Funding for prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STI) is focused on the 'Condom Essential Wear' campaign, which targets some of the hardest to reach young people who are at risk of contracting an STI. £6 million funding was provided for the campaign in 2006-07 and £4 million for the financial year 2007-08. It is too early to say what the funding levels will be beyond this.
	In addition to the funding for the 'Condom Essential Wear' campaign, the Department has also funded/agreed to fund the following:
	£4 million to fund the two Department for Education and Skills' campaigns aimed at reducing teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, 'R U Thinking and Want Respect? Use a Condom' in 2006-07 to 2007-08;
	£2.2 million to fund the work of the fpa (formerly Family Planning Association) in 2006-07 to 2007-08; and
	£5.4 million to fund work campaigning to prevent the spread of HIV conducted by the Terrence Higgins Trust and the African HIV Policy Network in 2006-07 to 2007-08.

Surgery: Waiting Lists

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many operations were cancelled within three months of the date of the operation being given to the patient in the last 12 months.

Andy Burnham: The data collected covers cancellations for non-clinical reasons on the day the patient is due to arrive or after arrival in hospital, and for non-clinical reasons on the day of surgery. There were 54,682 such cancellations in the last 12 months (taken from Department of Health dataset QMCO).
	Under the 18-week target, maximum waits of 18 weeks from referral to treatment will include any periods of delay caused by cancellations.

Driving Under Influence

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the likely impact on roads policing of the use of evidential roadside breathtesting devices.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 18 April 2007
	At present only screening tests can be conducted at the roadside; a person must be taken to a police station for an evidential test. Evidential testing at the roadside will save time and enable more enforcement. It will also catch those who fall below the drink drive limit in the time taken to get to an evidential test.

Offensive Weapons

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what percentage of people were convicted of an offence of the  (a) manufacture,  (b) importation,  (c) sale and  (d) hire of (i) flick knives and (ii) gravity knives under section 1 of the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 in each of the last five years, broken down by age group.

Tony McNulty: Data from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of persons proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for 'offences in connection with dangerous weapons' under the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 (Sec 1) in England and Wales from 2001-05, by age group, are provided in the following table.
	Information on the individual circumstances of offences is not held centrally and therefore information on the offensive weapons involved in these cases is not available.
	
		
			  Number of persons proceeded against at magistrates' courts, found guilty at all courts and convictions as a proportion of prosecutions for 'offences in connection with dangerous weapons' under the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959, by age group ,  England and Wales—2001-05( 1, 2) 
			  Year/Age group  Proceeded against  Found guilty  Convictions as a proportion of prosecutions (percentage) 
			  2001
			 10-17 2 1 50 
			 18-20 1 1 100 
			 21 and over 8 3 38 
			 Total 11 5 45 
			 
			  2002
			 10-17 — — — 
			 18-20 1 2 200 
			 21 and over 4 2 50 
			 Total 5 4 80 
			 
			  2003
			 10-17 — — — 
			 18-20 1 — 0 
			 21 and over 7 4 57 
			 Total 8 4 50 
			 
			  2004
			 10-17 1 1 100 
			 18-20 15 9 60 
			 21 and over 10 10 63 
			 
			  2005
			 10-17 — — — 
			 18-20 1 1 100 
			 21 and over 11 7 64 
			 Total 12 8 67 
			 (1) These data are provided on the principal offence basis. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Note: Prosecutions are counted by date of final outcome in the magistrates court. Guilty figures are counted by the date of sentence in both magistrates courts and Crown courts. Hence guilty figures can exceed prosecutions where they reflect cases of people being found guilty in the magistrates court and committed for sentence to the Crown court, the two events being counted in two different years.

Offensive Weapons

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were convicted of selling knives to under-18s in 2006.

Tony McNulty: Information on defendants convicted of offences in 2006 will be available in the autumn.
	Data from the Court Proceedings Database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform show that 19 persons were found guilty at all courts for the offence of selling to a person under age of 16 years a knife; knife blade, razor blade, axe and any other article which has a blade under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.141A (1) added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.6 (1) in 2005 in England and Wales.

Prevention of Crime Act 1953

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many  (a) arrests were made and  (b) convictions were secured under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how many  (a) arrests were made and  (b) convictions were secured under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on arrests for recorded crime offences under s139 and 139A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 (as amended by s4(1) of the Offensive Weapons Act 1996) and s1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 (as amended by s2(1) of the Offensive Weapons Act 1996) are not separately identifiable within the arrests collection held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. The collection is based on persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) by main offence group (i.e. violence against the person, robbery, burglary, criminal damage etc) only.
	Information on the number of persons found guilty for the offences requested in England and Wales for the years 2001-05 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of persons found guilty at all courts for certain offences( 1, 2, 3) , England and Wales 2001-05 
			 Age group 
			  Offence description  Statute  Year  Aged 10 to 11  Aged 12 to 14  Aged 15 to 17  Aged 18 and over  All ages 
			 811 Possession of offensive weapons without lawful authority or reasonable excuse Prevention of Crime Act 1953, Sec 1(1) as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996, Sec 2(1) 2001 4 136 976 3,765 4,881 
			   2002 5 113 953 4,398 5,469 
			   2003 4 135 832 4,432 5,403 
			   2004 — 134 1,047 4,576 5,757 
			   2005 4 124 999 4,601 5,728 
			 
			 826 Having an article with blade or point in public place Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 139 as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996, Sec3 2001 5 128 806 3,360 4,299 
			   2002 2 134 812 4,333 5,281 
			   2003 8 147 755 4,398 5,308 
			   2004 5 170 817 4,792 5,784 
			   2005 7 186 888 4,880 5,961 
			 
			 827 Having an article with blade or point on school premises (2) Criminal Justice Act 1988, Sec 139A(1)(5)(a) as amended by Offensive Weapons Act 1996, Sec 4(1) 2001 — 2 6 15 23 
			   2002 — 6 10 3 19 
			   2003 2 6 7 14 29 
			   2004 — 11 16 10 37 
			   2005 1 14 17 12 44 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Data for "having an article with blade or point on school premises" excludes convictions for West Mercia PFA, until clarification of these cases is obtained. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by police forces and courts. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.

Bicycles: Parking

Norman Baker: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many bicycle parking spaces are available on the House of Commons estate for  (a) hon. Members,  (b) staff and  (c) visitors.

Nick Harvey: There are currently 143 bicycle parking spaces on the House of Commons estate. They are situated as follows:
	Colonnade: 69, (of these seven are reserved for Members only and 14 are reserved for members of the House of Commons Cycling Club).
	Star Chamber Court: 48.
	Norman Shaw North Inner Courtyard: 32.
	Canon Row Courtyard: 12 (to be in place after Easter 2007).
	The provision of parking on the estate for non-passholders is not currently compatible with maintaining a secure perimeter. Further discussions have taken place regarding the provision of additional bicycle parking outside in the vicinity of the estate. I understand that six additional bicycle parking spaces have been agreed on Victoria Embankment near Portcullis House and that Transport for London, the highway authority has been requested to install them as soon as possible. Other potential sites for on-street cycle parking around Parliament are being investigated by Westminster City Council and other relevant authorities.

Developing Countries: Maternity Services

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the progress in meeting the fifth Millennium Development Goal, to improve maternal health.

Gareth Thomas: The millennium development goals (MDGs), including the fifth goal on improving maternal health, enables countries and international development partners, including DFID, to work together towards a common end. The United Nations produces an annual progress report "the Millennium Development Goals Report", outlining the progress made against each of the MDGs, including maternal health, at global and regional levels. At country level, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works with countries to track their progress against the MDGs.
	DFID supports these global assessment processes and does not try to replicate them. However, DFID does track the progress of UK development investments. For example, we produce an annual report on progress in implementing our maternal health strategy "Reducing maternal deaths: evidence and action". The second annual progress report is due to be published shortly and copies will be placed in the Library of the House. The report will provide details on what we have achieved, areas where we have made less progress and what more we need to do. The report covers both our efforts in supporting government and non-government efforts to improve maternal health (MDG 5) in countries, as well as what we have done internationally and at the policy level.
	In addition at country level, a framework for annual assessment of performance is included in DFID's country assistance plans (CAP). These CAPs set out details of how DFID aims to contribute to the achievement of the MDGs.
	In 2006, the international community agreed a new target under the maternal health millennium development goal (MDG 5) for "Universal Access to Reproductive Health by 2015". This is in addition to the existing target under MDG 5 to "Reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015". The new target means that access to reproductive health information, services and supplies should be available to all who need it. And it means that governments and the international community will be held accountable for providing them. We are proud that the UK fought hard for this target and has supported subsequent work to agree appropriate monitoring indicators. One of the new proposed indicators is 'unmet need for family planning' which is an important indicator because family planning is one of the most cost effective interventions we can make towards the achievement of not only the new reproductive health target, but to the achievement of all the MDGs.

Bus Services: Carrickfergus

Sammy Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the average daily passenger numbers were for each bus route to and from Carrickfergus in each month over the last three years.

David Cairns: Data is not readily available by individual bus routes from Translink. The following tables set out the daily average passenger numbers based on monthly patronage figures for those travelling to (alighting) and from (boarding) Carrickfergus in each of the last two years. Figures have not been provided in respect of 2004-05 as I am informed by Translink that data held for that year is incomplete.
	
		
			  2005-06 
			   Boarding  Alighting  Monthly total  Daily average 
			 April 11,810 12,390 24,200 807 
			 May 11,564 12,527 24,091 777 
			 June 12,564 13,589 26,153 872 
			 July 12,299 12,798 25,097 810 
			 August 13,703 14,412 28,115 907 
			 September 12,529 14,301 26,830 894 
			 October 10,809 12,213 23,022 743 
			 November 9,482 10,877 20,359 679 
			 December 10,231 11,336 21,567 696 
			 January 8,965 10,468 19,433 627 
			 February 8,990 10,459 19,449 695 
			 March 9,412 11,105 20,517 662 
			 Total 132,358 146,475 278,833 764 
		
	
	
		
			  2006-07 
			   Boarding  Alighting  Monthly total  Daily average 
			 April 8,838 9,885 18,723 624 
			 May 9,560 10,028 19,588 632 
			 June 9,977 10,595 20,572 686 
			 July 9,127 9,560 18,687 603 
			 August 10,563 10,508 21,071 680 
			 September 9,480 10,226 19,706 657 
			 October 9,817 10,115 19,932 643 
			 November 9,819 9,936 19,755 658 
			 December 9,392 9,262 18,654 602 
			 January 8,561 9,075 17,636 569 
			 February 8,035 8,706 16,741 598 
			 March 7,322 7,918 15,240 492 
			 Total 110,491 115,814 226,305 620

Portadown School

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he plans to publish the economic appraisal of the proposed capital building project at Portadown Integrated Primary School; and what the reasons are for the time taken to conclude this study and make it available.

Maria Eagle: The Department of Education is aware of the accommodation deficiencies at Portadown Integrated Primary School and an initial feasibility study was produced for the school which is a stage prior to the production of the economic appraisal. Following the Bain review new capital projects should in future be considered in the context of a more co-ordinated and consistent area-based planning approach and this will need to be reflected in the appraisal. The Department will be in contact with the school as the work develops though I cannot confirm at present as to when the appraisal will be completed.

South Eastern Education and Library Board: Public Appointments

Eddie McGrady: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what significant decisions have been made by the four commissioners appointed to the South Eastern Education and Library Board since their appointment in 2006.

Maria Eagle: The commissioners have taken many significant decisions since their appointment in July 2006 including decisions related to financial allocations and budgets, school development proposals, youth centre provision, leasing proposals and transfer of land, and procurement contracts. All decisions that have been taken are minuted and published in the normal way in accordance with Standing Orders and details of the relevant minutes are available on the South Eastern Education and Library Board website:
	http:/www.seelb.org.uk

Broadband

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what service obligations are placed on broadband providers to extend their coverage nationally; how such obligations are regulated; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Universal Service Obligation (USO) in the UK covers voice and data telephone services up to 56kbps, sufficient for dial-up internet, but not for broadband.
	The UK telecommunications market is regulated by Ofcom. Ofcom has designated BT and Kingston Communications (in the Hull area) as the Universal Service Providers in the UK. Ofcom report that 50 per cent. of UK adults now have broadband at home—up from 39 per cent. a year ago and seven-fold increase over the last four years. More than 13 million UK homes and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are now connected to broadband, compared with 9.9 million a year earlier and 330,000 in 2001.
	The European Commission is reviewing the scope and future of universal service in the EU later this year and we expect a Green Paper to be published in the autumn. The DTI will consult widely in preparing a response to the Green Paper.

Business Support

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the accessibility of Government support for small business.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 22 January 2007
	The latest Annual Small Business Survey found that 51 per cent. of small businesses with employees surveyed would like support from government but experience difficulties in determining what is available.
	The DTI-led Business Support Simplification Programme is driving work across all levels of Government to tackle the confusion caused by the number of business support services available. By 2010 the Programme will deliver Government support for business which is easier to access, which is targeted where it will have greatest impact and which is delivered to get best value for money.

Aviation: Carbon Emissions

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of different abatement measures for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the aviation sector.

Gillian Merron: As set out in the Air Transport White Paper (2003) and its progress report (2006), the Government believes that aviation's climate change impacts are best addressed through a Global Emissions Trading scheme. This approach is endorsed by the Stern Review on the economics of climate change which strongly supports carbon pricing to ensure that economic decisions fully reflect social and environmental costs. Until a truly global solution can be found, the inclusion of aviation in the existing EU Emissions Trading scheme represents the best multilateral option available.
	The UK Government have led the debate within Europe for aviation's inclusion in the EU ETS since the UK presidency of the EU in 2005. The UK welcomed the publication of the European Commission's proposal on 20 December 2006 to include aviation into the EU Emissions Trading scheme (EU ETS) and now looks to the German and Portuguese presidencies of 2007 to give this issue priority so prompt progress can be made with negotiations.
	Emissions trading and other economic instruments form part of an overall strategy which includes using operational measures and new technology to minimise the environmental impact of aviation.

Bus Services: Accidents

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving passengers on bus services were reported in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) constituency and  (b) service provider; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Tables showing the number of reported personal injury road accidents involving bus/coaches by constituency in each of the last five years have been placed in the Libraries of the House. 2005 is latest year for which data are available. Many of these accidents include buses/coaches which had no passenger casualties. Additionally some of the buses/coaches may have had no passengers at all. The information requested broken down by service provider is not collected.

Departments: Pressure Groups

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what meetings took place between Ministers in his Department and outside interest groups between 1 January and 31 March; and what the date was of each such meeting.

Gillian Merron: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Date (week commencing)  Minister  External party 
			 8 January Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Douglas Alexander) English Welsh and Scottish Railways 
			  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) Hitachi Ltd.. 
			
			 15 January Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Douglas Alexander) National Air Traffic Service 
			  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) Northampton Rail Users Group 
			   British Railways Board Residual 
			   First Great Western 
			
			 22 January Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) London Development Agency 
			   Parry People Movers Ltd.. 
			
			 29 January Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Douglas Alexander) British Airways 
			   British Airports Association 
			  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) Westinghouse Rail Systems Ltd.. UK 
			
			 5 February Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Douglas Alexander) Network Rail 
			   Virgin 
			   Transport for London 
			  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) Canary Wharf Group plc 
			
			 19 February Secretary of State for Transport (Mr. Douglas Alexander) BMI 
			
			 26 February Secretary of State (Mr. Douglas Alexander) Network Rail 
			   Lothian Buses 
			  Minister of State (Dr. Ladyman) National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport workers/Clyde Marine 
			   Brake 
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) Chiltern Railways 
			   BAA 
			   Canary Wharf Group 
			   Network Rail 
			   Hitachi Ltd.. 
			
			 5 March Secretary of State (Mr. Douglas Alexander) Network Rail 
			   Passenger Focus 
			   Campaign for Crossrail 
			   BAA 
			  Minister of State (Dr. Ladyman) Freight Transport Association 
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) Norwood Rail Users Group, First Capital Connect 
			   London Travel Watch, Passenger Focus 
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Gillian Merron) Boeing 
			
			 12 March Secretary of State (Mr. Douglas Alexander) Airbus 
			   EasyJet 
			   BA 
			   Maersk 
			  Minister of State (Dr. Ladyman) Norwich Union Insurance 
			   UK Maritime Pilots Association 
			   Association of British Insurers 
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) Black Country Consortium 
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Gillian Merron) Metronet Rail 
			
			 19 March Secretary of State (Mr. Douglas Alexander) Civil Aviation Authority 
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) Railfreight Interchange Investment Group 
			
			 26 March Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Tom Harris) BAE Systems Yards 
			   Institute of Civil Engineers 
			  Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Gillian Merron) UK Youth Parliament

Average Earnings

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average hourly pay of the lowest duo-decile of working age people in employment was in each quarter since 1997.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 19 April 2007:
	 As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what the average hourly pay of the lowest duo-decile of working age people in employment was in each quarter since 1997. (132411)
	Quarterly estimates are not available. Average levels of earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees on adult rates of pay whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect information on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I attach tables showing the 5th percentile of Gross Hourly Pay, for all employees, for the years 1997-2006.
	The ASHE, carried out in April each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent. sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn schemes.
	
		
			  Gross hourly earnings for all employee ( 1)  jobs 
			  UK  5( th)  Percentile 
			 1997 3.35 
			 1998 3.50 
			 1999 3.75 
			 2000 3.96 
			 2001 4.08 
			 2002 4.35 
			 2003 4.55 
			 2004 excl. 4.77 
			 2004 inc. (2) 4.75 
			 2005 4.99 
			 2006 5.15 
			 (1) Employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey pay-period was not affected by absence. (2) In 2004 additional supplementary surveys were introduced to improve the coverage of the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings. Figures are presented both excluding and including the additional surveys for comparison purposes.  Source:  Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Office for National Statistics.

Debts: Developing Countries

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what steps the Government are taking to protect heavily indebted poor countries and other indebted developing countries from litigation by vulture funds in British courts;
	(2)  what options have been discussed for Government action to pre-empt litigation by vulture funds and other commercial creditors against heavily indebted poor countries and other indebted developing countries, including within the Paris club;
	(3)  what steps the UK Government have taken to prevent the exploitation of developing countries by vulture funds since May 2002;
	(4)  what sums have been received from the Exchequer through taxation of awards made to vulture funds which have successfully sued developing country governments in British courts;
	(5)  if he will make a statement on the principles on fair debt restructuring, in relation to vulture funds.

Edward Balls: The Government have made clear its concern over the activities of so-called vulture funds and the problems they case for those countries that have received debt relief under the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC) Initiative.
	The Government's action to date has focused on preventing vulture fund litigation through the elimination of commercial debts and on strengthening debt management in HIPCs. The Department for International Development (DFID) co-funds a debt management capacity building programme that, through better debt management, should help to avoid debts being sold on to potential litigators. DFID also supports the World Bank's Debt Reduction Facility, which provides grants to enable countries to buy back their commercial debts at very significant discount (on average over 90 per cent. reduction), thereby removing the potential for litigation. Since its establishment, this facility has helped eliminate around $8 billion of debt in low-income countries.
	The UK has assisted HIPCs in fighting aggressive creditors. We are also encouraging the African Development Bank to develop a Legal Assistance Facility, which will offer advice to HIPC countries facing litigation. DFID has also been working with partner governments to tackle the corruption that can make it easier for vulture funds to purchase distressed debts in the first place.
	All governments and companies have a responsibility to ensure that debts of vulnerable countries are not sold to vulture funds. The UK is working with our international partners to agree a Charter on Responsible Lending. The G20 agreed a set of Principles on Fair Debt Restructuring in 2004 and the UK fully supports this.
	The Paris Club group of sovereign creditors recognise the importance of tackling vulture fund activity against HIPCs and press for comparable debt relief treatment from all creditors. The UK is an active member of this group.
	HMG does not hold a record of the awards made against developing country governments in UK courts or the identity and/or country of residence of the parties involved. Some information on existing lawsuits is published by the IMF in their HIPC Status of Implementation Report. This is available at:
	http://www.imf.org/external/np/pp/eng/2006/082106.pdf

Child Support Agency

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) total and  (b) full-time equivalent staff were involved in processing clerical Child Support Agency cases in each month since January 2005; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 19 April 2007:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) total and (b) full-time equivalent staff were involved in processing clerical Child Support Agency cases in each month since January 2005; and if he will make a statement.
	The number of fulltime equivalent staff working on clerical cases between January 2005 and January 2007 is provided in the attached table. Unfortunately we are unable to provide the total number of individual people involved in progressing clerical cases, as this information is not recorded.
	In September 2006 the Agency transferred all of its clerical cases to the CSA Bolton site, managed by Vertex. By progressing clerical cases together in one location the Agency expects to deliver a much more efficient service to clients. CSA Bolton is currently processing over 26,000 Agency cases, and has delivered more than £7.5m in maintenance payments since its launch in September 2006.
	A number of Agency people continue to be involved in clerical case progression. Their roles include the transferral of clerical cases to the CSA Bolton office, aiding in clerical case complaint resolution, and sharing best practise with the Bolton office to ensure Agency clients receive a consistent level of service.
	Unfortunately we are unable to provide information concerning the number of people employed by Vertex for the clerical progression of Agency cases. As such, the information provided covers only those Agency employees engaged in clerical case progression.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.
	
		
			  Month  Full - time  equivalents processing clerical cases 
			 January 2005 289 
			 February 2005 300 
			 March 2005 301 
			 April 2005 389 
			 May 2005 407 
			 June 2005 431 
			 July 2005 454 
			 August 2005 436 
			 September 2005 456 
			 October 2005 439 
			 November 2005 463 
			 December 2005 546 
			 January 2006 565 
			 February 2006 560 
			 March 2006 596 
			 April 2006 595 
			 May 2006 635 
			 June 2006 620 
			 July 2006 613 
			 August 2006 605 
			 September 2006 602 
			 October 2006 511 
			 November 2006 454 
			 December 2006 92 
			 January 2007 81